More than seven waterfalls in Munduk highlands, some still has no name, and some is still hard to reach.

Running and rushing, the sound of the water against the pebbles, hidden gem in the mountain wilderness, Melanting waterfall. Only accessible by foot and pathways are not clearly shown on digital maps. this place is mostly quiet all the time but the sound of the waterfall and birds

Melanting waterfall, Munduk, North Bali, Indonesia.

Mount Grace Priory, in the parish of East Harlsey, North Yorkshire, England, within the North York Moors National Park, is today the best preserved and most accessible of the ten medieval Carthusian houses (charterhouses) in England.

 

Set in woodlands, it was founded in 1398 by Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey, the son of King Richard II's half-brother Thomas, Earl of Kent, it was the last monastery established in Yorkshire, and one of the few founded anywhere in Britain in the period between the Black Death (1349–50) and the Reformation. It was a fairly small establishment, with space for a prior and twenty-three monks.

 

Mount Grace Priory consisted of a church and two cloisters. The northern cloister had sixteen cells whilst the southern had five cells, Frater and Prior's house and the Chapter House. To the west stood the lay brothers' quarters and the guest house.

One of my favourite reserves in the whole North of England due to it's open plan nature. There are many lakes, ponds, reedbeds and meadows. There are lots of nature trails and as you walk around you can see the wildlife and observe it from the paths.

  

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/

  

St Aidan's is a perfect place to get close to nature and relax, unwind or exercise in a stress-free environment. Just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire, it's a big new space to walk, run, cycle, or ride your horse and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you.

 

It has a wide range of wild plants and animals, and is home to thousands of birds, brown hares, roe deer, wild flowers and insects - all living in a stunning landscape of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands.

 

With a variety of circular paths of varying lengths and large areas of open grassland, St Aidan’s is a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors, share a picnic and play together.

 

Over 7.5 miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes connect the surrounding communities, with links to national footpath and cycle networks. St Aidan's is a fantastic place for locals wishing to explore the wider countryside or as a destination for people who love nature.

 

Opening times

 

St Aidan's is an open access site. Opening times apply to the visitor centre and car park. From March-October they're open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. From September-February it's 9.30 am to 4 pm. They're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

 

Entrance charges

 

Entry to the site is free but donations to help us continue our work are welcome. There is a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free.

 

Information for dog owners

 

Dogs are allowed on the reserve as long as they are kept on a lead in the appropriate designated zones. There are some less sensitive areas within St Aidan's where dogs are allowed off the lead. Please check with staff before letting dogs off the lead.

  

Star species

  

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

  

Bittern

  

Bitterns are brown, secretive herons, camouflaged to hide amongst reeds. Visit in spring to hear male bitterns 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights.

  

Great crested grebe

  

Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring. You may see pairs performing their 'weed dance' when they present one another with weed and patter across the surface of the water together.

  

Little owl

  

You may be lucky enough to find one of these compact owls perched in a tree or on a fencepost. They become very active at dusk and you may hear their shrill calls.

  

Marsh harrier

  

Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reedbed with their wings held upwards in a shallow 'v'. In spring, pairs perform their breathtaking 'skydancing' displays high in the sky.

  

Skylark

  

Spring visits will be enriched by the beautiful song of skylarks. They rise up into the air from the grassland until they are barely visible and only their song can be heard

  

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/seasonal_highli...

  

Seasonal highlights

  

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

  

Spring

  

Look out for marsh harriers displaying over the reedbeds, great crested grebes performing their elaborate courtship dances and returning swallows skimming low over the water and grasslands as they collect insects. Listen out for skylarks filling the air with their song, the deep booming of male bitterns, male snipe 'drumming' as they vibrate their tail feathers to attract females and lapwings calling as they perform their aerobatic displays. Enjoy the fusion of colour as wildflowers burst into bloom and a host of brightly-coloured butterflies and dragonflies take to the wing. Spring is also a great time to see kestrels. You can often see several hovering around the site at the same time as they hunt for voles in the grassland. Kestrels have also been seen nesting in the huge dragline.

  

Summer

  

Watch overhead for herons and little egrets dropping into the reeds to feed, female bitterns flying low over the reedbeds as they seek out food for their chicks or marsh harriers passing food to each other in flight. Keep an eye on the open water for lines of young ducklings paddling along behind their parents or young great crested grebes riding around on their parents' backs and admire the abundant lilypads on the lakes. Stoats, weasels and water voles are often seen at this time of year as are basking butterflies and dragonflies hawking the waters edge. Thousands of black-headed gulls set up a colony at this time of the year filling the air with their calls. Summer is the best time to spot the elusive black necked grebe as it will have its fluffy youngsters in tow. Avocets also nest at this time of year. St Aidan’s is a good place to spot this iconic bird that is the logo of the RSPB.

  

Autumn

  

Autumn sees the arrival of migrant birds, such as black-tailed godwits, ruffs and green sandpipers. Local birdwatchers will also spot a few rarities such as spoonbills and pectoral sandpipers. Huge flocks of lapwings arrive to spend winter with us and can be seen around pool edges and on grassland. Short-eared owls hunt over the reedbeds and our winter wildfowl begin to arrive. Look out for flashes of blue as kingfishers flit up and down the river.

  

Winter

  

Waders and wildfowl such as lapwings, curlews, wigeons, teals, shovelers and goldeneyes gather in big numbers, roosting and feeding across the grasslands and pools. Water rails can be spotted feeding on frozen pools, or you can listen out for their strange, pig-like squealing! The elusive bittern is also drawn out into the open at times. One of the most awesome spectacles in winter is seeing massive flocks of roosting birds panic and fly into the air as peregrines hunt over the site. Look and listen out for overwintering stonechats. Their calls sound like two pebbles being knocked together!

  

Facilities

  

Facilities

 

•Visitor centre

•Car park : There's a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free. We have cycle parking and a height restriction of 2.7 m (8' 10'') for vehicles.

•Toilets

•Disabled toilets

•Baby-changing facilities

•Picnic area

•Group bookings accepted

•Guided walks available

•Good for walking

•Pushchair friendly

  

Nature trails

  

Bowers Bimble: Starting from the car park, this 0.9-mile (1.5 km) flat trail takes you on a short walk around Bowers Lake then through grassland and wild flower meadows. Great for a relaxing stroll (20-30 minutes).

 

Lowther Loop: For a walk through shady woodland glades and along the banks of the River Aire, venture onto this 1.3 mile (2 km) flat trail. In wet winter months, it’s a welly boot walk (60 minutes).

  

Hillside Hike: For stunning landscapes and panoramic views of the nature park and surrounding areas, t ake a hike onto the hillside. This trail is 1.3 miles (2 km) with some steep hills and inclines, which wind through the trees and grassland (40-60 minutes).

  

Reedbed Ramble: To explore the magic of the whispering reedbeds, take a walk on this 1.7-mile (2.8 km) flat route that runs around the edges of the reedbeds and loops back to the main entrance (40-45 minutes).

  

As the new custodians of St Aidan's, we are aiming to improve the accessibility of our paths as soon as we can. Please contact us for updates on footpath and bridleway conditions.

  

Refreshments available

 

•Hot drinks

•Cold drinks

•Snacks

•Confectionery

  

By train

  

The nearest train stations are Woodlesford (3.2 miles), Castleford (3.2 miles) and Garforth (4.3 miles). If you're going to be walking or cycling from the station to St Aidan's, choose Woodlesford station. Turn left out of the station then left onto the main road. When you get to the bridge over the Aire and Calder navigation, cross it, then turn right and walk along the riverbank until you reach St Aidan's. If you're going to take a taxi from the station to St Aidan's, head towards Castleford station as it's easier to get a taxi there.

  

By bus

  

The nearest bus stop is just outside the entrance to St Aidan’s, on Astley Lane. The Number 167 Leeds to Castleford bus stops here and is run by Arriva Yorkshire.

  

By road

  

Reach us from junction 46 of the M1. Follow the A63, signposted Selby and Garforth. At the roundabout, take the fourth left for Wakefield A642, Swillington and Oulton. Follow the A642 for 1.5 miles then turn left on to Astley Lane. St Aidan's is 1.8 miles on the right.

 

From Castleford, follow the A656 (Barnsdale Road) north out of the town centre for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Station Road towards Allerton Bywater and travel 1.2 miles. Turn left onto the Leeds Road (next to the yellow corner shop). St Aidan’s is 0.5 miles along the road on the left.

Family Outing - Parents and juvenile Takahe grazing on Tiritiri Matangi. There’s is also a bird from last year but I couldn’t get it in the photo. Probably if I had waited it would have wandered over but I was running out of time to catch the boat back to the mainland.

 

The South Island takahē is a rare relict of the flightless, vegetarian bird fauna which once ranged New Zealand. Four specimens were collected from Fiordland between 1849 and 1898, after which takahē were considered to be extinct until famously rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains, west of Lake Te Anau, in 1948. Until the 1980s, takahē were confined in the wild to the Murchison Mountains. They have since been translocated to seven islands and several mainland sites, making them more accessible to many New Zealanders. Conservation work by the Department Of Conservation and community groups aims to prevent extinction and restore takahē to sites throughout their original range. The success of DOC’s Takahē Recovery Programme relies heavily on a partnership with Mitre 10 who through Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue is helping to ensure the long-term survival of this treasured species.

 

Identification

 

The South Island takahē is the largest living rail in the world. An enormous gallinule, it has deep blue on the head, neck and underparts, olive green on the wings and back, and a white undertail, The huge conical bill is bright red, paler towards the tip, and extends on to the forehead as a red frontal shield. The stout legs are red, with orange underneath. Juveniles are duller with a blackish-orange beak and dull pink-brown legs.

  

Tiritiri Matangi Island is a wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand's most important and exciting conservation projects. It is located 30km north east of central Auckland and just 4km from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. A hundred and twenty years of farming had seen this 220-hectare island stripped of 94% of its native bush but between 1984 and 1994, volunteers planted between 250,000 and 300,000 trees. The Island is now 60% forested with the remaining 40% left as grassland for species preferring open habitat.

 

In conjunction with this planting programme, all mammalian predators were eradicated and a number of threatened and endangered bird and reptile species have been successfully introduced, including the flightless takahe, one of the world’s rarest species, and the tuatara. There are few places in New Zealand where you can readily see and walk amongst so many rare species.

 

The project is managed by the Department of Conservation in conjunction with the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Incorporated.

 

Access is by a regular ferry service (limits do apply) and private craft.

 

The first takahē on Tiritiri were Mr Blue and Stormy, both males, introduced from Maud Island in 1991 for advocacy purposes. Further birds were translocated over the next few years from Maud Island, Kapiti, Mana Island and Burwood Bush (Burwood Captive Rearing Unit, a DOC facility near Te Anau), to commence a breeding programme; among these were JJ (Maud Island), the first female on Tiritiri, and Greg (Burwood). Greg spent the rest of his life on the Island, becoming a great favourite with visitors. Sadly, he died in August 2012, aged nearly 20, but some of his descendants still live there, as do descendants of Stormy and JJ.

 

Over the years a number of other birds have been translocated to Tiritiri from the above sites as part of the takahē management programme; such translocations aim to assist the breeding programme and to increase genetic diversity. Similarly, birds have been translocated from Tiritiri to other sites, such as Motutapu, where a new population was established in 2011 and 2012

Woodland in the winter. Not something I've particularly worked at before. Much exploited over the last year or so, so I thought I'd give it a go. Difficult to put an individual stamp on, but I guess I have to start somewhere. There'll be a few to come, so it'll be interesting to see what response they get. I do get the attraction of doing woodland, as it's generally very accessible locally, and there's a lot to go at. To be honest, I enjoyed the day just wandering about, and will be doing a bit more while we have the conditions we have at the moment. I hope to be able to get out when there's frost and mists to go at. The latter illuded me somehow this weekend, as the locations I went to weren't particularly misty!

 

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The boom in tourism on Koh Tao started in the 1980s, but the island only really became a popular destination for divers in the 1990s. In the beginning, mainly adventurous travelers and diving enthusiasts went to Koh Tao because of the beautiful underwater world and the relaxed island life. Over the years, tourism on Koh Tao has grown steadily, and the island now has a reputation as one of the top diving destinations in the world. In the 1980s, Koh Tao was not so easily accessible. But an unexpected itinerary emerged that was both adventurous and scenic. Koh Tao could only be reached via Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. The road to Koh Tao first led to bustling Koh Samui. Travelers embarked on a lively mix of tourists, locals and adventurers. The old wooden boats, which once served as fishing vessels, had been converted into small passenger ships that sailed between the islands. From Koh Samui the boat sailed to Koh Phangan, an island that was already known for its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful beaches. Along the way, travelers were greeted by the glittering sea and endless horizon, while the sunset created a magical spectacle over the sea. Arriving on Koh Phangan, where the beaches were still pristine and the coconut trees swayed gently in the sea breeze, travelers transferred to another converted fishing boat. These boats became the charming means of ferrying between the islands, with a quirky characteristic that made the journey unique. Finally, travelers arrived on the paradise of Koh Tao. The island was not yet as developed as it is today, but it exuded an untouched beauty with its crystal clear waters and lush coral reefs. While this route may now be considered nostalgic, it is a reminder of a time when the islands were not as connected by modern ferry services. It was a time when traveling to Koh Tao was an adventurous expedition where the converted fishing boats were the heroes of this scenic journey across the Gulf of Thailand.

 

Long ago, about thirty-five years ago, the journey to Koh Tao from Chumphon was an adventure in itself. At that time, when the Internet was not yet widespread and information was scarce, planning a boat trip to the islands was an uncertain undertaking. In those days the usual procedure was to go to any pier and see if there was a fishing boat available to sail to Koh Tao. The process was purely on spec, and there were no guarantees. The weather played a crucial role, and when the waves were too high, the boats refused to sail. Over time, travel options evolved with the introduction of speedboats, which significantly sped up the crossing to the island. Despite their speed, however, these boats also brought challenges. The sea skills of the speedboats sometimes left much to be desired, causing passengers to bounce over the waves and become seasick. Fortunately, with advances in transportation technology and the rise of advanced ferry services, the travel experience has improved significantly. Nowadays Lomprayah High-Speed Ferries offers the possibility to reserve seats online on comfortable catamarans. The extra-long pier is designed to accommodate the catamaran at low tide, when the water is too shallow.

 

De opkomst van toerisme op Koh Tao begon in de jaren '80, maar het eiland werd pas echt een populaire bestemming voor duikers in de jaren '90. In de jaren '80 was Koh Tao niet zo makkelijk toegankelijk. Maar er ontstond een onverwachte reisroute die zowel avontuurlijk als schilderachtig was. Koh Tao was alleen te bereiken via Koh Samui en Koh Phangan. De weg naar Koh Tao leidde eerst naar het bruisende Koh Samui. Reizigers scheepten in op een levendige mix van toeristen, locals en avonturiers. De oude houten boten, die ooit dienst deden als vissersschepen, waren omgebouwd tot kleine passagiersschepen die tussen de eilanden voeren. Vanaf Koh Samui voer de boot naar Koh Phangan, een eiland dat destijds al bekend was om zijn relaxte sfeer en prachtige stranden. Aangekomen op Koh Phangan stapten reizigers over naar een andere omgebouwde vissersboot. Uiteindelijk arriveerden reizigers op het paradijselijke Koh Tao. Het eiland was toen nog niet zo ontwikkeld als tegenwoordig, maar het straalde een ongerepte schoonheid uit met zijn kristalheldere wateren en weelderige koraalriffen. Hoewel deze route nu misschien als nostalgisch wordt beschouwd, herinnert ze aan een tijd waarin de eilanden nog niet zo verbonden waren door moderne veerdiensten. Het was een tijd waarin reizen naar Koh Tao een avontuurlijke expeditie was waar de omgebouwde vissersboten de helden waren van deze schilderachtige reis over de Golf van Thailand. In de jaren '90 ontstond ook een andere route direct vanaf Chumphon, het vaste land. In die tijd, waarin het internet nog niet wijdverspreid was en informatie schaars, was het plannen van een boottocht naar de koh Tao een onzekere onderneming. In die dagen was de gebruikelijke gang van zaken om naar een willekeurige pier te gaan en te kijken of er een vissersboot beschikbaar was om naar Koh Tao te varen. Het proces was puur op de bonnefooi, en er waren geen garanties. Het weer speelde een cruciale rol, en als de golven te hoog waren, weigerden de boten uit te varen. Na verloop van tijd evolueerde de reismogelijkheid met de introductie van speedboten, waardoor de overtocht naar het eiland aanzienlijk versnelde. Ondanks de snelheid brachten deze boten echter ook uitdagingen met zich mee. De zeewaardigheid van de speedboten liet soms te wensen over, waardoor passagiers over de golven stuiterden en zeeziek werden. Gelukkig, met de vooruitgang in transporttechnologie en de opkomst van geavanceerde veerdiensten, is de reiservaring aanzienlijk verbeterd. Tegenwoordig biedt Lomprayah High-Speed Ferries de mogelijkheid om online stoelen te reserveren op comfortabele catamarans. De extra lange pier is ontworpen om de catamaran bij eb te accommoderen, wanneer het water te ondiep is.

The design of PPG Place, by Philip Johnson and John Burgee, melds the notion of the modern corporate tower with a neo-gothic monument. Clad in almost a million square feet of glass manufactured by the anchor tenant PPG industries, the architects ingeniously rethought accepted practices in curtain wall design to create "the crown jewel in Pittsburgh's skyline." The 1.57 million square foot complex was one in a series of high profile corporate projects completed during Johnson's controversial foray into postmodernism. Commissioned by PPG Industries, formerly the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, the headquarters occupies a 5.5 acre site in the central business district and was part of an urban revitalization effort after the demise of the steel industry. PPG Place is a cluster of 6 volumes: a 40 story tower, a 14 story volume, and four 6 story buildings. The composition of lower volumes negotiates the verticality of the main tower and the lower surrounding context, yet all buildings are materially integrated and organized around a central plaza. The buildings house office space, retail shops, restaurants, and a publicly accessible winter garden.

The community that would become known as Hot Springs was established as early as 1820, though it was not until 1832 that the United States government declared the area a federal reservation. Ironically, this act had the effect of retarding investment within the valley of the hot springs due to the reluctance of potential investors to develop property of which they might be dispossessed. Therefore, small, wood construction bathhouses predominated until after the Civil War, when a number of forces combined to both make Hot Springs and its remarkable natural resources both more attractive and more accessible. Primary among these were the growing interest among the general populace in such waters for their therapeutic and medicinal value; the ability of certain talented entrepreneurs to develop and advertise their bathhouses in conjunction with the federal government; the appeal of gambling, for the pursuit of which the city could boast many attractive institutions; and the arrival of the "Diamond Jo" railroad line in 1875, named for "Diamond Jo" Reynolds, a successful Chicago businessman who deplored the rough coach roads that had heretofore provided the only means of access from the Cairo and Fulton (later Missouri--Pacific) Railroad that ran through nearby Malvern.

 

It is difficult to overestimate the impact of this relatively early arrival of a railroad line to the growth and prosperity of what would become one of America's premier resort cities. The access and convenience afforded travelers by relatively dependable railroad transportation single-handedly transformed the remoteness and isolation of this young city's rugged, mountainous setting from obstacles into attractions. Both literally and figuratively, visitors came to "get away" from the hectic pace and dizzying growth of America's late-nineteenth century industrial and commercial centers, and Hot Springs offered the unique combination of comfortable accessibility, rustic surroundings, and a myriad assortment of recreational opportunities. The city grew dramatically thereafter, and continued to experience a relatively high level of prosperity well into the second half of the twentieth century.

 

The Missouri--Pacific Railroad Depot in Hot Springs (seen in the photograph above) was constructed circa 1917 after the Missouri--Pacific Railroad had acquired the old St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern line that ran between Missouri and Texas as part of the its ambitious campaign to expand its network of rail lines all over the country, and to establish the railroad's corporate identity through the exclusive use of the Italianate/Mediterranean style of architecture for its passenger and freight depots. This particular depot is a single story, brick masonry freight and passenger depot designed in a distinctly Italian interpretation of the Mediterranean style. Its band of large, compound arched windows extending around the eastern, northern and western elevations, hipped Italianate tower and elaborate, decorative Italianate brackets that ornament the cornices throughout are all reflective of this influence, and also of the relatively high-style quality of this particular depot design. The plan is roughly V-shaped, a response to the triangular shape of its particular lot at the intersection of Broadway and Valley Street. The red clay tile roof and brick walls are supported upon a continuous, concrete foundation.

 

This passenger and freight railroad depot is associated with the Railroad Growth and Development in Arkansas, 1870-1940 historic context as a structure financed and erected under the auspices of one of the larger early twentieth-century railroads in the state. As such, it was nominated for and added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on June 11, 1992 via criterion A for these associations but also via criterion C as an excellent example of the Italianate/Mediterranean style of architecture. All of the above information was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:

catalog.archives.gov/id/26139673

 

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

 

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

 

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

Route 120

 

Two Bus songs

soundcloud.com/user8580052/frankie-armstrong-the-london-b...

soundcloud.com/user8580052/elaine-kolb-we-will-ride

 

Dawn breaks over Civita di Bagnoregio - an ancient hamlet perched on a singular rocky spit. It’s known as The Dying City, with only 14 permanent residents. It’s now a popular tourist attraction and is accessible via footbridge only. Prints available. Follow on WanderstruckElla on TT or Instagram for more travel treasures.

Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is Bandung's most well-known nature attraction. Just north of the city, this active volcano offers many places to see and explore. Whether you look into the huge crater or hike down into it, stroll through the forests on its slopes, or simply enjoy the splendid panoramic view, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is a must destination for everyone in the Bandung area.

 

When seen from Bandung, Mt. Tangkuban perahu has a distinctive shape that of a boat turned upside down. Tangkuban Perahu means, in fact, "up-turned boat". This peculiar shape has stimulated the fantasy of the Sundanese people from early times.

 

Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is one of the 37 active volcanoes that comprise the chain that formed the island of Java and regularly threaten to blow it up! It's huge and compelling, the only crater in Java accessible all the way by car as far as its rim.

 

Though the mountain appears peaceful, mild eruptions occurred in 1969, when Kawah Ratu spewed ash and barrages of rock 500 m high. As recently as September 1992 it was closed to the public for a few days because unusually high seismic activity led volcanologists to fear a new eruption. On the mountain's northern flank is an area called Death Valley, so named for its frequent accumulation of poisonous gases.

at Cramond Causeway (1 of 3)

The first came last in this set of 3 from Cramond. Here the tide is out and you have access the "Cramond Island" 1/3 of a mile from the mainland.and the anticipation of what was to come as the tide came in

~ Explored : February 10, 2012 ~

 

"Adventure in the Land of the Ancient Gods"

LADAKH : Day 6

Nikon D700/ Lens 70-200mm | Focal Lenght 70mm | Manual Exposure : 1/100 - Aperture : f/10

ISO Speed 200

 

Stakna Monastery is situated on the right bank of the Himalayan Indus River, Ladakh. The location easily accessible by road with a distance of approximately 25 km from the town of Leh, founded by Chosje Jamyang Palkar in 16th century, the great scholar saint of Bhutan. The name, 'Stakna' literally means 'tiger's nose'. The monastery was so named because it was built on a hill, which is shaped just like a tiger's nose.

 

Thanks for your kind visit and support.

All comments, criticism and tips for improvements are welcome.

© Sayid Budi ~ All rights reserved 2011

Spring-fed pond, adjacent to Oak Creek, no longer accessible to the public. I went there with the regular Wednesday bird walk, sponsored by Jay's Bird Barn (www.jaysbirdbarn.com/), in Sedona, who got special permission to enter. Such a beautiful, pristine place. While you're there, you can see the springs bubbling up to the surface. The light-colored object in the right foreground (not that round, gray one) is a flat, submerged rock, to give you an idea about how clear the water is.

 

Great birding spot, but no so great for bird photography. The birds like to hide in the trees and it takes an experienced birder to find them, which I am not. Others were able to find them using their binoculars, but even when they tried to point the birds out to me, I was usually unable to find them. There are nest boxes up here for Wood Ducks, but we didn't see any or any other ducks, for that matter.

Hamworthy Park, now directly accessible by foot, without having to go on a detour !

28.12.2015

Klick here for a large view!

 

Monument Valley is located on the southern border of Utah with northern Arizona. The valley lies within the range of the Navajo Nation Reservation, and is accessible from U.S. Highway 163. The Navajo name for the valley is Tsé Bii' Ndzisgaii (Valley of the Rocks).

 

The area is part of the Colorado Plateau. The floor is largely Cutler Red siltstone or its sand deposited by the meandering rivers that carved the valley. The valley's vivid red color comes from iron oxide exposed in the weathered siltstone. The darker, blue-gray rocks in the valley get their color from manganese oxide.

 

The buttes are clearly stratified, with three principal layers. The lowest layer is Organ Rock shale, the middle de Chelly sandstone and the top layer is Moenkopi shale capped by Shinarump siltstone. The valley includes large stone structures including the famed Eye of the Sun.

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  

Troll Falls are accessible via a short trail starting near Kananaskis Village. They are a popular destination year-round, including in winter when they form frozen pillars. In spring, as in this image, runoff creates high volume and makes for dramatic cascades.

I am the author of "Kananaskis Country Colours: Alberta’s Rockies Wilderness" -- for more info on the book and to order, please see www.alpinebookpeddlers.ca/?

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park contains Mauna Loa and Kilauea, two of the world’s most active and accessible volcanoes where ongoing geological processes are easily observed. This property serves as an excellent example of island building through volcanic processes. Through the process of shield-building volcanism, the park's landscape is one of relatively constant, dynamic change. Source: whc.unesco.org/en/list/409

Excerpt from www.hiddennewfoundland.ca:

 

The Brigus Tunnel is a surprising reminder of the impact that the Labrador fishery and seal hunt had on the community of Brigus. The historic town is littered with reminders of what life was like hundreds of years ago and is known for its large number of heritage buildings and picturesque gardens. But the most notable historic site in the town is a large tunnel cut through solid bedrock near the harbour front. To many people’s surprise the tunnel is an artifact of the Labrador fishery in which many of the town’s inhabitants once participated.

 

The tunnel was built for the famous Captain Abram Bartlett. Bartlett frequently made trips to Labrador to partake in the summer fishery but due to an overcrowded harbour would often have trouble finding a dock to unload his catch. After purchasing a larger ship, his previous berth at Riverhead was no longer usable. The only remaining suitable deep water berth nearby was in Brigus Harbour. Brigus' sheltered and deep water harbour was ideal for holding large ships but finding a place to dock a ship was often difficult due to surrounding cliffs. A tunnel through the ridge would give Bartlett access to his ship and allow for easy offloading of the catch.

 

Bartlett immediately purchased a section of land near the ridge and hired the help of Cornish miner John Hoskins. Hoskins began construction of the tunnel around 1860. John Hoskins was a professional who had previously been employed at the Tilt Cove Copper Mines on the Baie Verte Peninsula [Virtual Museum]. The roughly 80 foot long tunnel was constructed by hand drilling holes into the rock in which gunpowder would be placed. In order to keep the drill bits sharp a special forge was constructed near the tunnel site. The tunnel is reported to have taken around four months of continuous work to complete. The tunnel measured eight and a half feet high and about eight feet wide allowing wheel barrows, wagons and even horse and carriages to access the wharf on the other side. The tunnel was used until around 1910.

 

Today the tunnel is accessible by anyone who wishes to venture through. The tunnel is located near the waterfront behind St. Georges Heritage Church near the Bartlett Memorial.

The Columbia Center, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017 it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

 

The Columbia Center, developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, began construction in 1982 and was completed in 1985. The building is primarily leased for class-A office spaces by various companies, with the lower floors including retail space and the upper floors featuring a public observatory and private club lounge. The tower has the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets.

 

Columbia Center was designed by Washington architect Chester L. Lindsey. The base of the building is clad in Rosa Purino Carnelian granite. The building's structure is composed of three geometric concave facades with two setbacks, causing the building to appear like three towers standing side by side.

 

Ground level elevation on the Fifth Avenue side of the building is higher than on the Fourth Avenue side; the part of Cherry Street it faces was identified as one of the steepest streets in the Central Business District with a slope of 17.1%. The tower was originally designed to be about 306.5 m (1,006 ft), but federal regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not allow it to be that tall so close to the nearby Sea-Tac Airport. Although city land use regulations at the time were intended to limit skyscrapers to about 50 stories, the developer, Martin Selig, obtained the necessary permits for a 76-story skyscraper due to a part of the law that allowed bonus height for providing retail space with street access. Because three separate stories could access the street on the sloped site, the developers were allowed a bonus for each of the three stories they set aside for retail, which was reportedly an unintended loophole in the law. There is an observation deck on the 73rd floor which offers views of Seattle and environs. The top two floors of the building (75th and 76th) are occupied by the private Columbia Tower Club, which houses a restaurant, bar, library, and meeting rooms. The 40th floor is accessible to the public and features a Starbucks cafe. An underground concourse connects the building to the nearby Seattle Municipal Tower and Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.

 

The tower, originally proposed as Columbia Center, opened under the name Columbia Seafirst Center after its largest tenant and financier, Seafirst Bank, and then changed to the Bank of America Tower, when Seafirst, which had been owned by Bank of America since 1983, was fully integrated into Bank of America. That name gave it the nickname "BOAT" (Bank of America Tower). In November 2005, the building's name was changed back to Columbia Center after the bank reduced its presence in the building. Bank of America still maintains office space within the building, but has since closed the bank branch at the base of the tower.

 

Development and construction

 

Martin Selig, a local real estate developer who had recently opened the Fourth and Blanchard Building, announced plans for a 75-story office building at 4th Avenue and Columbia Street in October 1980. The $120 million project, named the "Columbia Center", would be funded by the Seafirst Mortgage Company and constructed by Howard S. Wright. Selig borrowed $205 million in 1981 to develop the property. The Columbia Seafirst Center, as it came to be known, was constructed by Howard S. Wright starting in 1982 with a 120-foot (37 m) deep excavation hole that required 225,000-cubic-yards of dirt and soil to be removed. This was one of the largest foundations for a building in Seattle along with concrete footings extending 134 feet (41 m) below street level. While the structural steel of the building was built at a rate of 2 floors per week, the building itself was completed on January 12, 1985,[10] and opened on March 2 of that same year. U.S. Steel Corporation was contracted to provide 16,000 short tons (15,000 t) of steel for construction. It was approximately 50% taller than the previous tallest skyscraper in Seattle, the 630-foot (190 m) Seattle First National Bank Building (now Safeco Plaza) that opened in 1969.

 

Financial issues and height controversy

 

Selig continued to own and manage the building until 1989, when financial problems forced him to sell it to Seafirst Corporation for $354 million. Management was taken over by the Tishman West Company of Los Angeles.

 

Controversy regarding the skyscraper's size contributed to the passage of a 1989 law called the Citizen's Alternative Plan (CAP) that enforced more stringent restrictions on the size of buildings in Downtown Seattle. In 1990, after rejecting earlier plans for 300-foot (91 m) antennas, Seattle and the FAA granted permission to erect two 192-foot (59 m) antennas on top of Columbia Center, which were expected to be used for broadcasting radio and television throughout the region. Though the FAA was originally worried about the tower's height encroaching the airspace, they deemed the addition of the antennas not problematic. The antennas were not built before the permits expired in 1994, however.

 

Ownership changes

 

EQ Office bought Columbia Center from Seafirst in 1998 for $404 million. The New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a 49.9% stake in the building and then several years later sold its share back to EQ Office. In 2007, Columbia Center was sold by EQ Office to Boston-based Beacon Capital Partners for $621 million; Beacon later defaulted on a loan in 2010, the height of the Great Recession, at a time when vacancies reached 40%. On August 7, 2015, Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners purchased the building for $711 million.

 

Renovations

 

On July 1, 2013, the Columbia Center's observation deck, known as the Sky View, was remodeled from 270 degrees to a 360 degree viewing area. The observation deck underwent further renovations in 2018, adding two express elevators and a new lounge. The 4th Avenue entrance was also renovated.

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Das Columbia Center ist das höchste Gebäude in Seattle und im US-Bundesstaat Washington. Mit einer Gesamthöhe von 285 Metern war es bei der Fertigstellung 1985 der höchste Wolkenkratzer westlich des Mississippi, wurde allerdings 1989 durch den U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles mit 310 Metern übertroffen. Die Höhe des Columbia Centers beträgt einschließlich einer Antennenkonstruktion auf dem Dach 295 Meter. Diese wird jedoch nicht als Teil des Gebäudearchitektur angesehen, und somit nicht zur formalen Höhe gewertet.

 

76 oberirdische Etagen dienen als Büroraum, die sieben Kellergeschosse werden vielseitig genutzt. Der Wolkenkratzer sollte ursprünglich etwa 306,5 Meter hoch werden. Die FAA erlaubte die Höhe nicht, da sich das Gebäude dafür zu nah am Flughafen Seattle/Tacoma befände, wodurch ein höheres Sicherheitsrisiko entstünde. Es wurde in das Projekt Raum für die Öffentlichkeit und Einzelhandel einbezogen, damit die zulässige Höhe nicht zu sehr eingeschränkt werden kann. Das 73. Stockwerk dient nun teilweise als Aussichtspunkt, von dem sich Seattle und seine Umgebung überblicken lässt. Der Columbia Tower Club verteilt sich auf die beiden obersten Stockwerke (75 und 76) und besteht aus einem Restaurant, einer Bar, einer Bibliothek und einigen Tagungsräumen. Ein unterirdischer Gang verbindet das Columbia Center mit dem nahegelegenen Seattle Municipal Tower und dem Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.

 

Mehrere größere Unternehmen mieten Büros im Columbia Center. Dazu zählen vor allem die Bank of America, Heller Ehrman LLP und Amazon.com.

 

Ursprünglich trug der Wolkenkratzer seinen heutigen Namen. Später wurde er nach der dort ansässigen Seafirst Bank als Columbia Seafirst Center bezeichnet. Diese gehörte seit 1983 zur Bank of America, wurde im Laufe der 1980er Jahre jedoch vollständig integriert. Daher bekam das Gebäude den Namen Bank of America Tower mit dem Spitznamen BOAT. Im November 2005 wurde es wieder in The Columbia Center (TCC) umbenannt.

 

Am 16. Juni 2004, noch vor Herausgabe ihres 9/11 Commission Report, machte die Untersuchungskommission zum 11. September 2001 nicht in die Tat umgesetzte Pläne der Terroristen bekannt, die vorsahen mit zehn entführten Passagierflugzeugen die höchsten Gebäude in Kalifornien und im Staate Washington zu beschädigen bzw. zu zerstören. Neben dem Columbia Center in Seattle habe auch der U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles zu den Zielen gehört.

 

(Wikipedia)

The brightest and most accessible to photography cluster in the constellation of Coma Berenices.

336 million light years from earth. Contains over a thousand different galaxies (most of them are elliptical) and huge amount of dark matter.

 

One of the few places in the sky where most objects are galaxies and not stars

 

------------------------------------------------------

 

• Sky-Watcher BK P2001 with TS Optics 2" Dual Speed Focuser

• EQ6-R Pro

• ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro

 

• ZWO L: 167x120s

• ZWO R, G, B: 60x120s bin2

(total integration 7.5h)

• -20° sensor temp., Gain 0 (HDR)

 

• Baader MPCC Mark III coma corrector

• 60x240 guide scope, ZWO ASI290Mini guide cam

 

Captured with ZWO EFW, ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIAIR, Pegasus Astro Powerbox

 

Saint Petersburg, Russia. Red light pollution zone, balcony

Lake Barrine is a freshwater lake situated on the eastern parts of Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia, close to Lake Eacham. The lake and surrounds are protected within the Crater Lakes National Park and are accessible via the Gillies Highway.

Lake Barrine was formed over 17,000 years ago when a large volcano erupted, leaving a crater that over time filled up with water to create a lake. The crater or maar was formed as a result of a series of volcanic explosions. These explosions were caused by the hot molten rock coming into contact with groundwater. This caused a build-up of steam, gases and pressure which blasted the central core from the volcano. This massive explosion left a huge crater, which filled with rainwater to create Lake Barrine. Local Aboriginals called the lake Barany. The largest of the natural volcanic lakes in the area, Lake Barrine is 730 m above sea level. It is about 1 km in diameter, with a shoreline of almost 4.5 km and an average depth of 65 m. No streams or springs feed the crystal clear lake; it is filled only by rainwater. During the wet season a small creek flows out of the lake. It joins Toohey Creek which is a tributary of the Mulgrave River. The surrounding rainforest contains giant kauri (Agathis microstachya), red cedar (Toona ciliata) and flowering umbrella trees (Schefflera actinophylla). Wildlife common in the area include eastern water dragons, giant eels, saw-shelled turtles, scrub pythons (Morelia kinghorni), pied cormorants, black ducks, plumed whistling ducks, black coot, whistling kites, brahminy kites, black kites, white-breasted sea eagles and dusky moorhens.

 

A lot of snow had fallen during the winter of 2008/2009 and even towards the end of June there was a lot of it lying around. It appears as if the last winter was colder than preceeding winters in large parts of Europe and Asia. The last time I had visited the lake it was in August 2000 and there was no snow on the ground.

 

The whole area as soon as you left Naran all the way to the lake was now part of the Lake Saiful Muluk National Park. It is an area of outstanding beauty and of tourist value but wildlife such as black bear, leopard, wolf, markhor, ibex, musk deer, monkey, pheasant, partridges, eagles, vultures are all quite rare now.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiful_Muluk

 

Lake Saiful Muluk (Urdu: سیف الملوک)is a lake located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley ( 34°52′37.34″N 73°41′37.71″E) near Naran. It is in the north east of Mansehra District in the North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. At an altitude of 3,224 m (10,578 feet) above sea level it is amongst one of the highest lakes in Pakistan.

The lake is accessible by a 14 km road from Naran (which is accessible by a road from Mansehra via Balakot and Kaghan) during the summer months. On foot, the trek from Naran to the lake takes about 4-6 hours. The water is clear with a slight green tone. The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers all around the high basin which feed the lake.

A fairy tale called Saiful Muluk, written by the famous sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, is associated with the lake.[1] It is the story of prince of Persia who fell in love with a fairy princess at the lake.[2] The impact of the lake beauty is of such extent that people believe that fairies come down to lake in full moon.

A poet and writer from Balakot, Ahmad Hussain Mujahid, has written the story of Saif ul Malook. The first edition of the book Saif ul Malook was published in 1999.

Mansehra District has had a flourishing tourism industry in the past due to its many mountain ranges and the Saiful Muluk Lake, however since the 2005 earthquake the region has seen a decrease in tourists. This lake is about ten thousand feet above the ground level of Naran, this beautiful lake reflects many colors in minutes.[3] Lately there has been an interest in building hotels in the area.[4]

   

Taken at Merewether Beach, New South Wales, Australia.

 

The outer part of the rock platform is accessible at low tide and there are some interesting rock patterns and pools to see.

 

As always, thanks for any comments, views or favorites, they are much appreciated!

 

Copyright © Paul Hollins. All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my explicit written permission.

Une vu imprenable à 360° depuis ce piton rocheux sur Besalú, avec le télé de 25x400mm. Difficile d’accès, accessible en voiture par une route étroite de 19km avec beaucoup de virages et très pentu pour arrivé au 1124m d'altitude au sanctuaire de la Mare de Deu del Mont. A voir Ici.

www.flickr.com/photos/20800336n08/34367978890/in/photostr...

 

A breathtaking 360 ° view from this rocky peak on Besalú, with the 25x400mm TV. Difficult to access, accessible by car via a narrow 19km road with many bends and very steep to reach the 1124m altitude at the sanctuary of Mare de Deu del Mont. To see here.

www.flickr.com/photos/20800336n08/34367978890/in/photostr ...

Rue Monge 15/07/2024 08h41

Rue Monge corner Rue Saint-Victor in the 5ème arrondissement of Paris. In front of the Église Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet.

 

Rue Monge

Rue Monge is a street in the 5ème arrondissement in the quartiers Saint-Victor and Jardin des Plantes. It has a length of 1260 meters and a width of 20 meters. Starting at boulevard Saint-Germain and ending at avenue des Gobelins.

The path was traced by Theodore Vacquer in 1860 by absorbing a portion of the Rue Saint-Victor. During 1869 works were unearthed the long-sought remains of des arènes de Lutèce. The street is named after Gaspard Monge (1746-1818), French mathematician, one of the founders of the Ecole Polytechnique.

By métro Rue Monge is easily accessible by métro line 7 (Censier – Daubenton and Place Monge) and 10 ( Cardinal Lemoine and Maubert - Mutualité) and bus lines 27, 47 and 86.

[ Wikipedia - Rue Monge ]

Milwaukee Art Museum Locked Down; MAM behind bars; chanined and locked down from public access, Milwaukee, WI USA

The town of Morges organizes its market every Wednesday and Saturday in its Grand Rue. Fortunately, in 1993, the latter and Rues Centrale and Rue de Couvaloup were closed to automobile traffic. Thus, the city centre, accessible from the station, has a pleasant setting for pedestrians.

 

The photo was taken in the heart of the old town in front of the Manor department store, although the market tends to extend more towards the West along the Grand Rue. We can see on the right the only tree recently planted in the street following its redevelopment. On the left, you can also see some old buildings with old signs and windows currently being renovated.

 

La ville de Morges organise son marché chaque mercredis et samedis dans sa Grand-Rue. Cette dernière a heureusement été fermée au trafic automobile en 1993 ainsi que les Rues Centrale et de Couvaloup offrant ainsi un cadre agréable pour les piétons dans le centre-ville et ce accessible depuis la gare.

 

La photo a été prise au coeur de la vieille ville devant le grand magasin Manor bien que le marché ait tendance à s'étendre plutôt en direction de l'Ouest le long de la Grand Rue. On aperçois sur la droite l'unique arbre récemment planté dans la rue suite à son réaménagement. Sur la gauche, on aperçoit également quelques anciens bâtiments avec de vieilles enseignes et fenêtres actuellement rénovés.

Young driver’s car insurance isn’t the cheapest form of insurance that there is, but that does not mean that you have to make a hole in your wallet. There are ways to reduce your auto insurance premiums and have accessible to your Pocket premiums.

Ways to Reduce Your Auto Insurance P...

 

insuranceseen.com/auto-insurance-young-drivers/

Korsika - Manganello Tal

 

In the Manganello valley, there are several nice swimming holes. By car, follow the N198 towards Ajaccio to Vivario, then the D23 towards Canaglia. Once in the village of Canaglia you will need to find a place to park. The small village car park is quickly filled up. Several hiking trails lead to the river. Along the bed of the river, there are several points where you can get into the water. After about an hour of walking, the trail leads to the Meli waterfall and the Tolla bridge. From here, the GR 20 (hiking trail) leads to the most beautiful swimming holes.

 

(iflyer.corsica)

 

Dans la vallée de Manganello, plusieurs points de baignades sont accessibles. En voiture, suivre la N198 en direction d'Ajaccio vers Vivario puis la D23 en direction de Canaglia. Une fois au village de Canaglia, il faut prévoir de se garer. Le petit parking du village est rapidement rempli. A pieds, plusieurs pistes mènent à la rivière. En suivant le lit de la rivière, plusieurs points de baignades sont accessibles. Après une heure de marche environ, la piste mène à la cascade de Meli et le pont Tolla. A partir d'ici, la GR 20 (piste de randonnée) mène aux plus beaux bassins pour la baignade.

 

(iflyer.corsica)

 

Im Manganello Tal gibt es mehrere schöne Badestellen. Mit dem Auto folgen Sie der N198 nach Vivario in Richtung Ajaccio, dann die D23 Richtung Canaglia. Einmal im Dorf Canaglia Sie müssen einen Parkplatz finden. Das kleine Dorf Parkplatz ist schnell gefüllt. Mehrere Wanderwege führen zum Fluss. Neben dem Bett des Flusses, gibt es mehrere Punkte, wo man ins Wasser gehen kann. Nach etwa einer Stunde Spaziergang führt der Weg zum Wasserfall und dem Meli Tolla Brücke. Von hier führt der GR 20 (Wanderweg) zu den schönsten Badestellen.

 

(iflyer.corsica)

Pinhão on the Douro River is accessible from Porto by train, 2 hours and 17 minutes, one of the options to enjoy the Douro River Valley Wine Region.

 

Many consider the Linha do Douro, the train line that follows the valley, one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe.

 

Under 125 miles (200km) long, the line terminates at Pocinho, just shy of the Spanish border.

 

The trains are inter-regional with no catering, so bring your own food & drink (port or wine?).

Returning from 2022 (when I couldn't go), Lightscape transformed the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne/Naarm.

 

In past light exhibitions (I specifically recall their fire events), the art displays have been somewhat interactive. This exhibition kept you on a specific path you could not wander off from. Therefore I felt detached from the artworks. Whilst there were a couple of highlights in the first half (starting from the main gate entrance), I felt the real excited began after the midway point.

 

I went to the relaxed session, but their idea of lower numbers, is ridiculous. we started the trail right on go time, but within 45mins, the grounds were swarming with people. There should have been a much longer lead time for the relaxed session - lower numbers is the biggest draw card for people with disability and neurodiversity. PLUS the volume of the music playing was not at relaxed levels. Accessibility isn't hard, so why do so many venues continue to fail?! Not that buying an accessible ticket was accessible - Ticketek is really a sh!t show when it comes to accessibility - it took six weeks to book a ticket that could have been purchased in 15mins (not to mention the stress involved in having to get someone to organise to take a call at a time that suited all parties - with my brand of autism I do not speak over the phone).

 

The official blurb: "Be mesmerised by a six metre orb made of thousands of LEDs, singing trees and a flickering fire garden amongst colour-changing installations, soundscapes and large-scale illuminated sculptures. Experience the new two kilometre trail around the lake and celebrate the beauty of nature after dark."

This man-made wall of water is four stories high and diverts water from a tributary of the Deschutes River, just minutes away from downtown Bend. It is not easily accessible, and I ended up walking about 300 yards atop a slippery water flume to get to this secluded spot. A cautionary warning to those who might be tempted to venture here, this area appears to be a gathering and sleeping place for Bend's homeless and transient population. The freezing temperatures kept people away this morning, but there is evidence of a number of people calling this area home. For safety reasons I will not be going back.

 

For daily photos, updates and musings on all things photography - please like my Facebook page via the link below.

 

www.facebook.com/thuncherphotography

 

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Best viewed in Lightbox, click on image to view Hi-Res version. © All rights reserved. Please do not use or repost images, sole property of Thūncher Photography.

One of the many advantages we enjoy at our cottage near Little Girl's Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is having nearby access to beautiful sunsets over Lake Superior. This was taken only about a 1/4 mile away from our place.

 

A cool way to view mine or anyone else's photostream is on fluidr.

It is really a miracle. This area is accessible from my job in less than 10 minutes on foot. If it's not raining, I walk there during lunch break to relax from work. The real miracle is that I can still find inspiration to take such pictures. Many people will think, how boring always the same place.This photo session yesterday was like in a trance, the mood shows the location in a new light.

 

Location: Balzers - Liechtenstein

Date: May 4, 2012 01:06pm

Camera: Nikon D700

Lens: Zeiss Distagon T* 3.5/18 ZF

Exposure: 1/250

Aperture: f/11

Filter: Hitech Graduated ND 0.9 Stop

 

Summit Lake (12,830 feet) is an excellent example of a high alpine lake. It lies in a cirque formed by Mount Evans and Mount Spalding with rocky ridges and cliffs rising from the lake to the summits over 1,000 feet above. It is the most accessible lake above timberline as the Summit Lake parking area is just a few hundred feet from the lake. The area to the east of the lake is Summit Lake Flats and is the only known area of permafrost located in the United States outside of Alaska.

 

Always wonder where the idea of gargoyles came from! Visiting the Torrent de Pareis, a spectacular gorge that is accessible from the sea by boat, via the tunnel or climbing down several hundred meters, gave the answers. One of the many inriguing rock formations in the gorge, it was like in fairy-tale wait until the nightfall and the rocks come alive. Sa Calobra. Serra Tramuntana, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

EVIA ISLAND, GREECE. ΕΥΒΟΙΑ

A day out with my wife Theresa Jane Brown.

Taken on August 6, 2020.

 

The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges, an old wooden bridge and a contemporary suspension bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

  

Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανάσης Φουρναράκος

Professional Photographer, Athens, Greece

(retired in 2011, born in 1946).

 

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

The 25th Alton Bus Rally & Running Day took place in Anstey Park on July 21st 2019. Over 150 visiting buses and coaches, both new and preserved, descended on the Hampshire market town for what turned out to be another great event.

 

Seen in Anstey Park is Alexander Dennis Enviro200 demonstrator YX19OWA.

The Rocca Sanvitale or Sanvitale Castle, is a fortress residence located in the town of Fontanellato, near Parma, northern Italy. Construction of the moated block, accessible through a drawbridge, was begun in the 13th century, mostly completed by 15th century, with embellishments continuing through to the 18th century. It is prototypical of the urban castle-houses of the turbulent towns of Northern Italy. Until the 1948 it was the home of the descendants of the Count of Sanvitale, now is owned by the municipality. (Wikipedia)

 

The Baglione's frescoes are in a XIV lodge.

 

Many thanks in advance to everyone who will pass by visiting my shots. Comments are appreciated. You are welcome!

 

Panasonic Lumix FZ28

  

© Sergio Presbitero 2010, All Rights Reserved

This work may not be copied, reproduced, republished, edited, downloaded, displayed, modified, transmitted, licensed, transferred, sold, distributed or uploaded in any way without my prior written permission.

  

The crenelated walls and asymmetric towers are surrounded by an arcaded town. Adjacent to the castle are gardens and a courtyard. One of the rooms has an optical system in place that projects to an inside wall a view of the town through mirrors and a prism. Rocca Sanvitale is now a museum.

 

The most famous works inside are the frescoes of Diane and Acteon painted in 1523-24 by Parmigianino for the Count Galeazzo Sanvitale and his wife, Paola Gonzaga.

Type;Natural, enlarged by damming

Location;near Thelkeld

Accessibility;Footpath access

Grid Ref;NY 304 235

Elevation;207m (679 feet)

Size;

135 x 83 m (445 x 275 feet)

 

Area;0.78 hectares (1.93 acres)

Depth;2m (6½ feet)

Meaning of name;peewit tarn

Alternative name(s);Tewfit Tarn

 

Lying on the lower slopes of the High Rigg ridge, above the Greta valley, Tewet Tarn is a pretty little tarn set in rough grazing fells. Although it is not obvious, there is a small boulder dam at the northern end whilst the south and west are very marshy. Fine views across the tarn looking west, north and east are possible - the best of all being when the water is still, providing wonderful reflections of Blencathra and Skiddaw to the north.

The more easily accessible and more often visited of the two waterfalls is the "cascada chica," also called the Amphitheatre. This cliff rises over fifty meters above the valley floor, where there is a natural platform about sixty meters wide. This platform has four springs. The water from three of the four springs is captured by a number of small natural pools and two large artificial pools in which visitors can swim. The lower of the two pools is very close to the cliff edge and was built in 2007. In these pools, the water appears a turquoise green due to the mineral concentration.

 

Wikipedia

The Caribbean flamingos remain in Emmen Zoo in winter outside in the South American bird garden.

 

Flamingos breed in places where there is plenty of food around, and which are not accessible to predators. With large numbers of birds they are close together. In a very large breeding colony are sometimes counted 200,000 breeding pairs. The nest of a flamingo is a mud mound from 30 to 40 inches high. Then they lay usually only one egg. The male and female take turns brooding. After about 30 days there will be a white chick from the egg.

 

This is what we saw during our Cycling holiday in Drenthe and Groningen, the Netherlands, where we have cycled through the beautiful landscape.

© www.tomjutte.tk

.

  

La Puntilla, Cataño

TeilnehmerInnen lauschen weiterhin den Eröffnungsworten

[Fotorechte: Andreas Hafenscher, webnfoto.com]

The Nene Valley Railway's TASC-machine seen on the Fletton Branch, while delivring replacement sleepers to a worksite.

 

[Taken during an engineering possession, not a location accessible to the general public]

Samphire Hoe Country Park is a country park situated 3 km (2 miles) west of Dover in Kent in southeast England. The park was created by using 4.9 million cubic metres of chalk marl from the Channel Tunnel excavations and is found at the bottom of a section of the White Cliffs of Dover. The site is owned by Eurotunnel Ltd., and managed by the White Cliffs Countryside Project.

 

It is accessible by the public via a single-track tunnel controlled by traffic lights, which crosses over the Kent Coast railway line. Visitor facilities are provided, including car parking, toilets and a tea kiosk.

 

Samphire Hoe is named after the wild plant rock samphire that was once collected from the Dover cliffs; its fleshy green leaves were picked in May and pickled in barrels of brine and sent to London, where it was served as a dish to accompany meat. A 'hoe' is a piece of land which sticks out into the sea.

 

The name was coined by Mrs Gillian Janaway, a retired English teacher from Dover, by way of a public competition.

 

The cliffs above the current park were blown up with gunpowder in 1843 to aid the creation of the Dover to Folkestone railway. In 1880 an attempt was made from the site to create a tunnel that would pass under the English Channel but it failed shortly afterwards. In 1895 a coal mine was sunk there but this closed in 1921 after being very unsuccessful. These activities were served by Shakespeare Cliff Halt railway station at the western end of the Shakespeare Cliff tunnel; the remains of the platforms can be seen from the road to the car park. A community of fisherfolk and others once lived at the foot of Shakespeare Cliff.

 

In the 1980s the site was deemed the most suitable of sixty proposed to dump chalk from Channel Tunnel excavations, and work began on it in 1988. As the 30 hectares that make up the park were totally reclaimed from the sea, the first job to be completed was the building of walls in the sea to create an artificial lagoon. It was completed in 1994 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II and President François Mitterrand. It opened to the public in 1997.